§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will state in detail the protests made to the British Government by the Indian Foreign Minister, Mr. Chagra, over an alleged British plan to convert some of 114W the islands in the Indian Ocean to a military base after buying them over.
§ Mr. BowdenThe Indian Ministry of External Affairs has apprised the British High Commissioner of the Indian Government's views which are:
- (a) the Indian Government object to the separation of certain islands from Mauritius and the Seychelles before these territories become independent;
- (b) the Indian Government would be opposed to the establishment of military bases in the Indian Ocean area.